Weight distribution system

ABSTRACT

A weight distribution system is shown and described. The weight distribution system may include a spring arm configured to be operatively engaged between plate members of a ball mount, and a pin member inserted into the spring arm, the pin member configured to secure the spring arm with the ball mount. The weight distribution system may also include an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place the spring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a weight distribution system,and; more specifically, the present invention relates to a system ofdistributing weight of a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle andcontrolling sway of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Many vehicles are designed to transport freight, goods, merchandise,personal property, and other such cargo. Often, such vehicles arearranged to tow a towed vehicle, such as a trailer by attaching thetowed vehicle to the towing vehicle though the use of a hitch assembly.For example, a hitch assembly may attach a trailer to a towing vehiclethrough a hitch ball and coupler arrangement that allows relativemovement between the towing vehicle and the trailer as the towingvehicle makes turns, traverses uneven or rough terrain, and passes alonginclining and declining roadways.

Even distribution of the weight of a towed vehicle among the axles ofthe towing vehicle is important to the effective operation of a towingvehicle that is towing the towed vehicle. Towed vehicles are oftenloaded with heavy cargo and may substantially outweigh the towingvehicle. When such a towed vehicle is coupled or secured to the rear ofa towing vehicle, the majority of the weight of the towed vehicle may beborn by the rear axle of a towing vehicle. Such uneven weightdistribution may lower the rear of the towing vehicle and raise thefront of the towing vehicle. Under such conditions, the tires of therear axle may bear substantially more weight than the tires of the frontaxle of the towing vehicle.

Controlling the sway movement of the towed vehicle (i.e., lateral orside-to-side movement of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle)relative to the towing vehicle as the trailer is towed is also importantto the effective operation of a towing vehicle. While relative motion ofthe trailer with respect to the towing vehicle is necessary toaccommodate turns and inclining and declining roadways, excess sway ofthe towed vehicle may be undesirable. This may be particularly true whenthe load that is being towed is heavy relative to the weight of thetowing vehicle.

Many factors may contribute to the swaying of a towed vehicle. Forexample, crosswinds impacting the trailer; unevenly loaded towedvehicles; inclined, declined, and sloped roadways; winding roadways; andrough and uneven terrain may all contribute to swaying of the towedvehicle. Such factors may be exacerbated as the speed of the vehicleincreases. As previously mentioned, towed vehicles and cargo maysubstantially outweigh a towing vehicle. When such a towed vehiclebegins to sway, particularly when driven at high speeds such as on ahighway, the towed vehicle may transfer sufficient side-to-side andlateral forces to the towing vehicle to cause undesirable drivingconditions.

Weight distributing systems, with sway dampening; have been used toremedy these conditions. However, attaching such weight distributionsystems can often be time consuming and difficult. Further still, theseweight distributing system use spring bars of a square shape requiringuse an intermediate part to fasten the spring bar into the ballmount.Typically this has been accomplished with trunnions and tubularbushings. This approach, however, leads to extra parts. These extraparts add weight to the system, increase looseness, increases costs andprovide additional wear items requiring replacement.

There is a need, therefore, for a weight distributing system with swaydampening that uses fewer parts, weighs less than other systems, and iseasier to operate. There is also need for a weight distributing systemthat easier and quicker to assemble.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A weight distribution system is shown and described. The weightdistribution system may include a spring arm configured to beoperatively engaged between plate members of a ball mount, and a pinmember inserted into the spring arm, the pin member configured to securethe spring arm with the ball mount. The weight distribution system mayalso include an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place thespring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.

A weight distribution system may include a ball mount adapted to bemounted to a hitch of a towing vehicle, a spring arm operativelyinserted into the ball mount, and a pin inserted into the spring arm andthe ball mount, the pin member operatively securing the spring armdirectly with the ball mount. The weight distribution system may alsoinclude an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place thespring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.

A weight distribution system may include a ball mount adapted to bemounted to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the ball mount including firstand second plate members, a spring arm operatively engaged between thefirst and second plate members, and a pin inserted into the spring armand the first and second plate members, the pin member operativelysecuring the spring arm with the ball mount. The weight distributionsystem may also include an attachment mechanism selectively placing thespring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to thedetailed description taken in connection with the followingillustrations, wherein

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of embodiments of a weight distributionand sway control system.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the weight distribution and sway controlsystem.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the weight distribution and swaycontrol system.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the weight distribution and swaycontrol system.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a spring arm of the weightdistribution and sway control system.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a portion of the weight distribution andsway control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand structural and functional changes may be made without departing fromthe respective scope of the invention. Moreover, features of the variousembodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scopeof the invention. As such, the following description is presented by wayof illustration only and should not limit in any way the variousalternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustratedembodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a hitch assembly20 for distributing weight and controlling sway of a towed vehicle 24attached to a towing vehicle 28, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 1.The towed vehicle 24 may be coupled, attached, or otherwise secured tothe towing vehicle 28 through in any appropriate manner. By way of anon-limiting example, a hitch ball and coupler arrangement 32 may beutilized.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the towed vehicle 24 may include an A-framemember 36, with a coupler 40 attached to a front end 44 of the A-framemember 36. A ball mount head 48 may be attached to the towing vehicle 28in any appropriate manner. The ball mount head 48 may includes a hitchball 52 secured thereto. In such embodiments, the coupler 40 may bepositioned over the hitch ball 52 and secured with the hitch ball 52,thus securing the towed vehicle 24 to the towing vehicle 28. It shouldbe understood, however, that the towed vehicle 24 may be secured withthe towing vehicle 28 in any appropriate manner and is not limited tothat shown and described herein.

The exemplary hitch assembly 20 as illustrated and described may provideadditional linkages between the A-frame member 36 of the towed vehicle24 and the ball mount head 48. This arrangement may allow fordistribution of weight of the towed vehicle 24 and may control sway ofthe towed vehicle 24.

The hitch assembly 20 may also include a pair of spring arms 56. Thepair of spring arms 56 may be substantially similar to one another;however the present teachings are not limited to such. Only onereference number will be used for the pair of spring arms 56, and anyillustration or description of a spring arm 56 will apply to eitherspring arm 56. The spring arms 56 may have a generally rectangularcross-sectional shape, such that the width W may be greater than theheight H thereof. This may result in the spring arm 56 being lighterthan other prior art systems, while generally maintaining the sameperformance. By way of a non-limiting example, the height H of thespring arm 56 may be less than other systems, which may result in thespring arms 56 being generally lighter.

The hitch assembly 20 may further include a pair of attachmentassemblies 60. The pair of attachment assemblies or mechanisms 60 may besubstantially similar; however, the present teachings are not limited tosuch. In some embodiments, the pair of attachment assemblies 60 may of adifferent configuration. For purposes of this disclosure, only onereference number will be used for the pair of attachment assemblies 60,and any illustration or description of an attachment assembly 60 willapply to either attachment assembly 60. Although an exemplary embodimentis illustrated and described herein as having a pair of spring arms 56and a pair of attachment assemblies 60, it will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art that a hitch assembly 20 may include greater offewer than two spring arms 56 and greater than or fewer than twoattachment assemblies 60 to attach those spring arms 56 to a towedvehicle 24.

A first end 64 of the spring arm 56 may be operatively coupled directlyto the ball mount head 48, such as through the use of a fastener 68. Theconfiguration of the spring arm 56 may make it unnecessary to use atubular member and mounting trunnion used by other prior art systems. Insuch embodiments, the ball mount head 48 may include a first and secondplate members 72, 76 axially spaced from each other such that a space 80is formed therebetween. The spring arm 56 may be configured to generallyfit between the first and second plate members 72, 76, i.e., the springarm 56 may be configured to operatively fit within the space 80. Theheight H of the spring arm 56 may permit it to fit within the space 80.This may result in high loads within the ball mount head 48. In someembodiments, the fit between the spring arm 56 and the first and secondplate members 72, 76 may be tight, which may create large frictionalload in the ball mount 48. This large frictional load may provide moresway dampening to the hitch assembly 20.

Each of the first and second plate members 72, 76 may include anaperture 84. In such embodiments, the spring arm 56 may also include anaperture 92. The aperture 92 may extend through the height H of thespring arm 56. The spring arm 56 may be positioned between the first andsecond plate members 72, 76, and the apertures 84 may be generallyaligned with the aperture 92 of the spring arm 56. Once aligned, the 68fastener of any appropriate configuration, such as a pin shown in thedrawings may be inserted through the apertures 84, 92. This may resultin the spring arm 56 being operatively coupled with the ball mount head48 with the pin 68 being vertically positioned through the mount head 48and spring arm 56. In some embodiments, this may result in the springarm 56 being pivotally and operatively coupled with the ball mount head48.

The fastener 68 may include a head 96 that may engage the first platemember 72. The head 96 may be sized to generally prevent the entirefastener 68 from passing into or through the aperture 84. Distallyspaced from the head 96 of the fasteners, an aperture 100 may bepositioned within the fastener 68. The aperture 100 may be of anyappropriate configuration. In some embodiments, a second fastener 104,such as the clip shown, may be inserted into the aperture 100 andengaged with the fastener 68. The clip 104 may generally prevent thefastener 68 from entering into or through the aperture of the secondplate member 76. This may generally keep the spring arm 56 operativelycoupled with the ball mount head 48.

Utilizing the fastener 68 and directly attaching the spring arm 56 withthe first and second plate members 72, 76 may result in the hitchassembly 20 having fewer components, while also be tightly fit together.With fewer components, the hitch assembly 20 may undergo less wear thanother prior art systems and may result in the hitch assembly 20 beingoperatively fitting tighter together. Still further, having fewercomponents may result in the hitch assembly 20 being lighter than otherprior art systems. Any one of these or a combination of such may resultin the hitch assembly 20 having an extended life. Moreover, using theclip 104 and the fastener 68 to secure the spring arm 56 with the ballmount head 48 may permit the spring arm 56 to be readily removed fromthe ball mount head 48 when not needed.

In some embodiments, the vertical positioning of the fastener or pin 68to attach the spring arm 56 with the ball mount head 48 may provide aspring arm pivot point. This pivot point may use fewer components tosecure the spring arm 56 with the ball mount head 48. Most other systemsuse an intermediate piece, such as a trunnion with a horizontal pin or abushing with a horizontal connecting pin, to connect the spring armassembly to the ball mount. The present hitch assembly 20 does not usethe intermediate piece and the pin 68 is vertically attached.

The attachment assembly 60 may selectively attach, couple, or otherwisesecure a second or opposite end 108 of the spring arm 56 to the A-frame36 of the towed vehicle 24. As best seen in FIG. 1, the attachmentassembly 60 may include a shoe bracket 112, a frame bracket 116 with topand bottom pins 120, 124, a side bracket 128, and a friction pad 132. Aswill be described in detail below, the attachment assembly 60 mayselectively attach or couple the spring arm 56 to the towed vehicle 24.This may result in the spring arm 56 assisting with distributing theweight of the towed vehicle 24 to and with the towing vehicle 28 andgenerally controlling the sway of the towed vehicle 24 relative to thetowing vehicle 28. In addition, the spring arm 56 may be attached orcoupled to the towed vehicle 24 such that this attachment may allow thetowed vehicle 24 to move laterally with respect to the towing vehicle 28so as to accommodate operations such as turning the towing vehicle 28 tothe left and right. By way of a non-limiting example, the fastener 68may permit the spring arm 56 to be pivotally attached with the ballmount head 48. This arrangement, however, may also provide sufficientsway force resistance to generally dampen or generally eliminate sway asthe towing vehicle 28 tows the towed vehicle 24.

It should be appreciated that selectively attaching or coupling thespring arm 56 to the towed vehicle 28 with the attachment assembly 60may be accomplished through the transfer of force between thecomponents. By way of a non-limiting example, the spring arm 56 may becoupled to the towed vehicle 24 by the spring arm 56 applying a force tothe towed vehicle 24 through the attachment mechanism 60. Such a forcemay be arranged to keep the spring arm 56 in general contact with, andthus attached to, the attachment mechanism 60 throughout the operationof the towing vehicle 28. In other words, the spring arm 56 may be inmechanical contact with the towed vehicle 24 through the attachmentmechanism 60 throughout the operation of the towing vehicle 28. In otherembodiments, a force may be arranged to keep the spring arm 56 generallyin contact with the attachment mechanism 60 throughout certainoperations of the towing vehicle 28 and may allow the spring arm 56 tobreak contact with the attachment mechanism 60 throughout otheroperations of the towing vehicle 28. In other words, the spring arm 56may selectively be in mechanical contact with the towed vehicle 24through the attachment mechanism 60 throughout the operation of thetowing vehicle 28.

In such embodiments, the attachment mechanism 60 may include the framebracket 116, which may include two vertically extending bracket members136, 140. Although the frame bracket 116 is shown as a coupling of twocomponents, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the artthat the frame bracket 116 may be monolithically formed. The twovertically extending brackets members 136, 140 may, in some embodiments,be of substantially the same configuration. However, the presentteachings are not limited to such; the two vertically extending bracketmembers 136, 140 may also be of different construction from one another.

The two vertically extending bracket members 136, 140 may include atleast one aperture 144 that may be sized to accept the top and bottompins 120, 124. The top and bottom pins 120, 124 may be of anyappropriate construction. By way of a non-limiting example, the top andbottom pins 120, 124 may be a fastener, such as a bolt, rivet, or thelike. In some embodiments, the two vertically extending bracket members136, 140 may include a series of apertures 144 or a plurality ofapertures 144 that may also be sized to accept a fastener, such as abolt, rivet, or the like, including, without limitation the top andbottom pins 120, 124.

The side bracket 128 may include a series of apertures 148 sized toaccommodate a fastener, such as a bolt, rivet, or the like, and may bearranged such that at least one aperture 148 of the side bracket 128mates or generally aligns with at least on of the apertures 144 of theframe bracket 116. Fasteners may be passed through mated apertures 144,148 to couple the frame bracket 116 and side bracket 128 together. Byway of a non-limiting example, the bottom pin 124 may be insertedthrough the mated apertures 144, 148. In some embodiments, a fastener152 may be inserted into and through mated apertures 144, 148 of theframe bracket 116 and the side bracket 128 and may extend into theA-frame 36.

The shoe bracket 112 may be attached with the side bracket 128 in anyappropriate manner. By way of non-limiting examples, the side bracket128 may be monolithically formed with the shoe bracket 112, or the shoebracket 112 may be attached with the side bracket 128 such as throughwelding, fastening or otherwise adhering.

In some embodiments, the shoe bracket 112 may include a generallyL-shaped member 156. The L-shaped member 156 may be monolithicallyformed with the shoe bracket 112 or may be attached thereto such asthrough welding, fastening, adhering or the like. By way of anon-limiting example, the shoe bracket 112 may include an aperture 158and the L-shaped member 156 may include a tab 162 sized and shaped to beinserted into and through the aperture 158. The tab 162 may include anaperture 166 through which a clip 170 may be inserted to secure L-shapedmember 156 with the shoe bracket 112. The L-shaped member 156 beingattached with the shoe bracket 112 may generally form a cavity 174 intowhich or through which the spring arm 56, or more specifically, thesecond end 108 may engage. In such embodiments, the L-shaped member 156may be selectively attached with the shoe bracket 112. This may simplifythe engagement of the spring arm 56 with the shoe bracket 112. In suchembodiments, the clip 170 may be removed from the aperture 158 of theL-shaped member 156. The L-shaped member 156 may then be removed fromthe aperture 158 of the shoe bracket 112. This may provide easy accessfor the spring arm 56 to be engaged with the shoe bracket 112. Once thespring arm 56, i.e., the second end 108 is engaged with the shoe bracket112, the L-shaped member 156 may then be attached to the shoe bracket112. This may form the cavity 174 in which the spring arm 56 may bepositioned.

The friction pad 132 may be positioned or coupled to a flat innersurface 178 of the shoe bracket 112. The friction pad 132 as illustratedmay be comprised of any appropriate material that may generally resistmovement of components in contact with the friction pad 132 including,without limitation automotive composites and other high frictionmaterials.

In some embodiments, the attachment assembly 60 may be attached to theA-frame member 36 of the towed vehicle 24 as follows: The frame bracket116, or more specifically, the vertically extending bracket members 136,140 may be placed on either side of the A-frame member 36. The top pinmember 120 may be inserted into the corresponding apertures 144. Theside bracket 128 may then be aligned appropriately with respect to theframe bracket 116. The series of apertures 144, 148, respectively, mayallow for the assembly 60 to be attached to A-frame members 36 ofvarying heights. The fastener 152 may be inserted into one of the seriesof apertures 148 of the side bracket 128 and one of the verticallyextending bracket members 136 (or 140) and into the A-frame 36. The sidebracket 116 may be positioned relative to the A-frame 36 and the framebracket 116 such that the shoe bracket 112 is appropriately positionedrelative to the spring arm 56.

Such an arrangement may allow for variation of the height of the shoebracket 112 by enabling an operator or installer to selectively chooseto align the apertures 148 of the side bracket 128 with higher or loweraligned apertures 144 in the frame bracket 116 or more specifically thevertically extending bracket members 136, 140.

Once the attachment assembly 60 is secured to the A-frame member 36,each spring arm 56 may be positioned within a shoe bracket 112. Toprovide weight distribution and sway control, the spring arm 56 may bepreloaded by bending the arm 56 upward, through the use of a jack orother such method, before the spring arm 56 is placed in the shoebracket 112. When the spring arm 56 is positioned within the shoebracket 112, the spring arm 56 may be generally in direct contact withthe friction pad 132. The preload force may result in the spring arm 56applying a downward force on the towed vehicle 24 through the attachmentassembly 60 and an upward force on the rear of the towing vehicle 28through the ball mount head 48. The magnitude of the preload force maybe selected to enhance the effective operation of the towing vehicle 28by considering factors such as, for example, the relative weights of thecargo and towed vehicle 24 and the anticipated driving conditions.

The downward force of the spring arm 56 may be relayed to the towedvehicle 24 by the contact of the spring arm 56 with the friction pad 132coupled to the shoe bracket 112. Such downward force may assist indistributing weight of the towed vehicle 24 to the towing vehicle 28.The downward force, together with the friction coefficient of thefriction pad 132 and the friction in the ball mount head 48 may producea friction force that resists lateral and front-to-back movement of thespring arm 56 relative to the attachment assembly 60 and the towedvehicle 24. Such resistance may assist in controlling sway of the towedvehicle 24 relative to the towing vehicle 28.

The arrangement of the friction pad 132 and the friction in the ballmount head 48 may substantially improve the sway control of the towedvehicle 24 during towing of the towed vehicle 24. As mentioned earlier,the inclusion of a friction pad 132 may create a friction force toresist lateral and front-to-back movement of the spring arm 56 duringtowing of the towed vehicle 24. Such a force may be arranged such thatthe force does not interfere with the intended operations of the towingvehicle 28, such as controlled left and right turning, backing up, etc.The force, however, may dampen or counteract the sway forces encounteredduring driving of the towing vehicle 28 so as to reduce or eliminate thesway movement of the towed vehicle 24. This sway dampening may be as aresult of friction at the second end 108 of the spring arm 56 andfriction within the ball mount head 48. Because of high loads in theball mount head 48, the frictional forces there may be four to fivetimes higher than out at the second end 108 of the spring arm 56.

The hitch assembly 20 may allow for a user to selectively control thefriction force applied to spring arm 56 and, thus, control the amount ofsway control provided by the hitch assembly 20. By way of a non-limitingexample, the preload force of the spring arm 56 may be increased, whichmay increase the sway control provided by the hitch assembly 20.Conversely, the preload force on the spring arm 56 may be decreased,which may decrease the sway control provided by the hitch assembly 20.Often, the conditions that demand a greater preload force on the springarm 56 may also demand greater sway control. For example, as the weightof cargo increases, the preferred preload force on the spring arm 56 mayincrease to distribute more load to the front of the towing vehicle 28.Similarly, as the weight of cargo increases, the magnitudes of the swayforces may also increase; therefore, increases in sway control may bebeneficial.

In the embodiments described and illustrated, when the preload force isincreased, the downward force of the spring arm 56 on the friction pad132 may increase as well as the forces in the ball mount head 48. Theincreased downward force may increase the friction force that must beovercome for the spring arm 56 to move laterally or front-to-back. Thismay provide greater control of sway by dampening and counteractinggreater sway forces. The preload force may be increased or decreased ina number of ways. In some embodiments, the height of the shoe bracket112 relative to the towed vehicle 24 may be adjusted based on specificaligned apertures 144, 148 of the frame bracket 116 and the side bracket128, through which the shoe bracket 112 is attached. As may be seen inFIG. 1, there may be a plurality of aligned apertures 144, 148 throughwhich the shoe bracket 112 may be attached. The higher the attachment ofthe shoe bracket 112, the greater the spring arm 56 must be bent upwardsto be placed within the shoe bracket 112. This may result in greaterpreload force of the spring arm 56. Conversely, the lower the attachmentof the shoe bracket 112, the less the spring arm 56 must be bent upwardsto be placed within the shoe bracket 112. This may result in smallerpreload force of the spring arm 56.

In other embodiments, the attachment assembly 60 may be selectivelypositioned along the length of the A-frame 36. As will be readilyappreciated, as the attachment assembly 60 is moved towards the ballmount head 48 (i.e., closer to the first end 64 of the spring arm 56 andfarther away from the second end 108 of the spring arm 56), the springarm 56 may be bent upward a greater distance to be properly seated inthe shoe bracket 112. The larger the upward deflection of the spring arm56, the larger the sway control provided by the hitch assembly 20.Conversely, as the attachment assembly 60 may be moved away from theball mount head 48 (i.e., closer to the second end 108 of the spring arm56 and farther from the first end 64 of the spring arm 56), the springarm 56 may be bent upward a lesser distance to be properly seated in theshoe bracket 112. The lesser the upward deflection of the spring arm 56,the lesser the sway control may be provided by the hitch assembly 20.

In other embodiments, the spring arms 56 may be selected based on thestiffness or rigidity of the material comprising the arms 56. As will bereadily understood, at a given deflection, the preload force provided bythe arms 56 may vary based on the stiffness or rigidity of the springarm material. A spring arm comprised of a stiffer material may provide agreater preload force at a given deflection than a spring arm comprisedof a more flexible or pliant material.

It will be readily understood that examples of apparatus, systems, andmethods described and illustrated herein for increasing or decreasingsway control may also be applied to increase or decrease thedistribution of the weight from a towed vehicle 24 to the towing vehicle28.

As described above, the position of the attachment mechanism 60 alongthe A-frame member 36 may be variable, which may accommodate a varietyof circumstances. The style of towed vehicle 24 and placement of cargomay limit the locations along the A-frame member 36 at which a hitchassembly may be coupled. For example, towed vehicles 24 designed totransport gas tanks often include securing fixtures along the perimeterof the towed vehicle 24. These securing fixtures and the placement ofgas tanks in the fixtures often interfere with the placement of springarm attachment mechanisms at locations along the A-frame. If theattachment mechanism is statically located along the spring arm, such acondition may preclude a hitch assembly from being used with a towedvehicle transporting gas tanks.

In the embodiments described and illustrated herein, the attachmentassembly 60 may be secured anywhere along the A-frame member 36 andstill accommodate the spring arm 56. When the spring arm 56 is placed onthe friction pad 132, it may be free to move (once frictional forcesbetween the friction pad 132 and the spring arm 56 are overcome) withinan enclosure defined by the shoe bracket 112. Such placement of thespring arm 56 on the friction pad 132 may not be dependent on thelocation of the attachment assembly 60 to the A-frame member 36.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustratedin the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detaileddescription, it is to be understood that the present invention is not tobe limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the inventiondescribed herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modificationsand substitutions without departing from the scope of the claimshereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include allmodifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope ofthe claims or the equivalent thereof.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:
 1. A weight distributionsystem comprising: a ball mount adapted to be mounted to a hitch of atowing vehicle, the ball mount including: an upper member having a hitchball secured thereto; a lower engagement body; a spring arm operativelyengaged with the lower engagement body; the lower engagement body havingfirst and second plate members wherein the first plate member extendsrearwardly further than the second plate member; and a vertical supportmember adapted to connect the upper member and the lower engagement bodywith the hitch of the towing vehicle; the spring arm operatively engagedbetween the first and second plate members of the ball mount, the springarm directly loading on the first plate member creating a friction loadin the ball mount dampening sway forces and wherein the spring arm isdirectly engaged with the second plate member; a pin member insertedinto an aperture on the spring arm, the pin member securing the springarm with the ball mount; and an attachment mechanism configured toselectively place the spring arm in mechanical communication with atowed vehicle.
 2. The weight distribution system of claim 1, wherein thepin member pivotally attaches the spring arm with the ball mount.
 3. Theweight distribution system of claim 2, further comprising a clipsecuring the pin member with the spring arm and ball mount in agenerally vertical position relative to the ball mount.
 4. The weightdistribution system of claim 1, wherein the first plate member ispositioned above the second plate member.
 5. The weight distributionsystem of claim 1, wherein the first plate member comprises an upperplate and the second plate member comprises a lower plate positionedbelow the upper plate.
 6. The weight distribution system of claim 1,wherein the engagement of the first plate member and the spring barresults in the spring bar applying a greater force to the first platemember than the second plate member.
 7. The weight distribution systemof claim 1, wherein the spring bar applies an upward force on the firstplate member.
 8. The weight distribution system of claim 1, wherein thespring arm includes an end and the attachment mechanism includes abracket having a friction pad positioned thereon whereby the end engagesthe friction pad.
 9. The weight distribution system of claim 8, whereinthe frictional load in the ball mount is four to five times higher thana frictional load at engagement of the end of the spring arm andfriction pad.
 10. A weight distribution system comprising: a ball mountadapted to be mounted to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the ball mountincluding: an upper member having a hitch ball secured thereto; a lowerengagement body; a spring arm operatively engaged with the lowerengagement body; the lower engagement body having upper and lowerplates, the upper plate including at least one support member andextending a greater distance rearwardly than the lower plate; and avertical support member adapted to connect the upper member and thelower engagement body with the hitch of the towing vehicle; the springarm operatively inserted into the ball mount between the upper and lowerplates, the spring arm directly loading on the upper plate creating afriction load in the ball mount dampening sway forces and wherein thespring arm is directly engaged with the lower plate member; and a pinmember inserted into the spring arm, the pin member securing the springarm with the ball mount.
 11. The weight distribution system of claim 10,wherein the spring arm is pivotally attached with the ball mount. 12.The weight distribution system of claim 10, further comprising a clip,the clip selectively engaged with the pin member selectively securingthe spring arm with the upper and lower plates.
 13. The weightdistribution system of claim 10, wherein the spring arm being directlyattached with the upper and lower plates is free of a trunnion.
 14. Theweight distribution system of claim 10, wherein the spring arm beingdirectly attached with the upper and lower plates is free of a bushing.15. The weight distribution system of claim 10, wherein the attachmentmechanism includes a shoe bracket engaging the spring arm with the towedvehicle.
 16. The weight distribution system of claim 15, furthercomprising an engaging member selectively secured with the shoe bracket,the engaging member configured to circumscribe at least a portion of thespring arm.
 17. The weight distribution system of claim 15, wherein theshoe bracket includes a friction pad engaged with an end of the springarm.
 18. The weight distribution system of claim 17, wherein thefrictional load in the ball mount is four to five times higher than africtional load at engagement of the end of the spring arm and frictionpad.
 19. The weight distribution system of claim 10, wherein the supportmember comprises a vertically extending plate attached with the topplate.
 20. A weight distribution system comprising: a ball mount adaptedto be mounted to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the ball mount including:a lower engagement body; a spring arm operatively engaged with the lowerengagement body; the lower engagement body having first and second platemembers; a third plate member configured to accept a hitch ball; and avertical support member adapted to connect the lower engagement body andthe third plate member with the hitch of the towing vehicle; the springarm positioned between the first and second plate members, the springarm directly loading on the first plate member creating a friction loadin the ball mount dampening sway forces; a pin inserted into the springarm and the first and second plate members, the pin operatively securingthe spring arm with the ball mount; and an attachment mechanismselectively placing the spring arm in mechanical communication with atowed vehicle.
 21. The weight distribution system of claim 20, whereinthe spring arm is pivotally attached between the first and second platemembers.
 22. The weight distribution system of claim 20, furthercomprising a clip, the clip selectively engaged with the pin memberselectively securing the spring arm with the ball mount.
 23. The weightdistribution system of claim 20, wherein the attachment mechanismcomprises: a shoe bracket engaging the spring arm with the towedvehicle; and an engaging member selectively secured with the shoebracket, the engaging member configured to circumscribe at least aportion of the spring arm.
 24. The weight distribution system of claim23, wherein the spring arm is selectively in contact with a friction padpositioned in the shoe bracket.
 25. The weight distribution system ofclaim 24, wherein the spring arm is in mechanical communication with thetowed vehicle through a force applied to the friction pad by the springarm.
 26. The weight distribution system of claim 23, wherein the shoebracket includes a friction pad engaged with an end of the spring arm.27. The weight distribution system of claim 26, wherein the frictionalload in the ball mount is four to five times higher than a frictionalload at engagement of the end of the spring arm and friction pad.
 28. Aweight distribution system comprising: a ball mount adapted to bemounted to a hitch of a towing vehicle, the ball mount including: alower engagement body; a spring arm operatively engaged with the lowerengagement body; the lower engagement body having first and second platemembers, the first plate member spaced above the second plate member,wherein the first plate member includes a reinforcing plate attachedthereto and extends further rearwardly than the second plate member andalong a majority of a length of the first plate member; a third platemember configured to accept a hitch ball; and a vertical support memberadapted to connect the lower engagement body and the third plate memberwith the hitch of the towing vehicle; and the spring arm positionedbetween the first and second plate members, the spring arm directlyloading on the first plate member creating a friction load in the ballmount dampening sway forces.
 29. The weight distribution system of claim28, further comprising: a pin member inserted into the spring arm, thepin member securing the spring arm with the first and second platemembers; and an attachment mechanism configured to selectively place thespring arm in mechanical communication with a towed vehicle.
 30. Theweight distribution system of claim 29, wherein the spring arm includesan end and the attachment mechanism includes a bracket having a frictionpad positioned thereon.
 31. The weight distribution system of claim 30,wherein the frictional load in the ball mount is four to five timeshigher than a frictional load at engagement of the end of the spring armand friction pad.
 32. The weight distribution system of claim 28,wherein the reinforcing plate extends toward a rear portion of the firstplate member.
 33. The weight distribution system of claim 28, whereinloading the spring arm applies an upward force on the first platemember.